labour – English Lyrics

• By: Paris Paloma
• Album: Cacophony

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the powerful language of protest and solidarity in Paris Paloma's 'Labour.' This song offers a unique opportunity to learn English vocabulary related to feminism, societal roles, and emotional expression. Its clear, impactful lyrics and compelling narrative make it a special and accessible tool for language learners to engage with contemporary social issues while expanding their vocabulary.

[English]

Why are you hanging on

So tight

To the rope that I’m hanging from

Off this island

This was an escape plan

Carefully timed it

So let me go

And dive into the waves below

Who tends the orchards?

Who fixes up the gables

Emotional torture

From the head of your high table

Who fetches the water

From the rocky mountain spring

And walk back down again

To feel your words and their sharp sting

And I’m getting fucking tired

The capillaries in my eyes are bursting

If our love died, would that be the worst thing?

For somebody I thought was my saviour

You sure make me do a whole lot of labour

The calloused skin on my hands is cracking

If our love ends, would that be a bad thing?

And the silence haunts our bed chamber

You make me do too much labour

You make me do too much labour

Apologies from my tongue

Never yours

Busy lapping from flowing cup

And stabbing with your fork

I know you’re a smart man

And weaponise

The false incompetence

It’s dominance under guise

If we had a daughter

I’d watch and could not save her

The emotional torture

From the head of your high table

She’d do what you taught her

She’d meet the same cruel fate

So now I’ve gotta run

So I can undo this mistake

At least I’ve gotta try

The capillaries in my eyes are bursting

If our love died, would that be the worst thing?

For somebody I thought was my saviour

You sure make me do a whole lot of labour

The calloused skin on my hands is cracking

If our love ends, would that be a bad thing?

And the silence haunts our bed chamber

You make me do too much labour

All day, every day, therapist, mother, maid

Nymph then virgin, nurse then a servant

Just an appendage, live to attend him

So that he never lifts a finger

24/7 baby machine

So he can live out his picket fence dreams

It’s not an act of love if you make her

You make me do too much labour

All day, every day, therapist, mother, maid

Nymph then virgin, nurse then a servant

Just an appendage, live to attend him

So that he never lifts a finger

24/7 baby machine

So he can live out his picket fence dreams

It’s not an act of love if you make her

You make me do too much labour

All day, every day, therapist, mother, maid

Nymph then virgin, nurse then a servant

Just an appendage, live to attend him

So that he never lifts a finger

24/7 baby machine

So he can live out his picket fence dreams

It’s not an act of love if you make her

You make me do too much labour

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
labour /ˈleɪbər/ B2	noun - work, especially hard physical work verb - to work hard
escape /ɪˈskeɪp/ B1	noun - the act of getting away from a place or situation verb - to get away from a place or situation
torture /ˈtɔːrtʃər/ C1	noun - the action or practice of inflicting severe physical pain to someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do something verb - to inflict severe physical pain on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do something
bursting /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/ B2	verb - to break open or apart suddenly and violently
saviour /ˈseɪvjər/ B2	noun - a person who rescues someone from danger
cracking /ˈkrækɪŋ/ B1	verb - to break or cause to break with a sudden, sharp sound
haunts /hɔːnts/ B2	verb - to visit or appear repeatedly in a place or in someone's thoughts
weaponise /ˈwepənʌɪz/ C1	verb - to adapt or use something for use as a weapon
dominance /ˈdɒmɪnəns/ C1	noun - the state or power of controlling someone or something
guise /ɡaɪz/ B2	noun - an external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of something
appendage /əˈpendɪdʒ/ C1	noun - an extra part or extension added to something
maid /meɪd/ A2	noun - a female servant
virgin /ˈvɜːrdʒɪn/ B1	noun - a person who has never had sexual intercourse
attends /əˈtendz/ B1	verb - to pay attention to
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep